Two of the state's top small-school programs and two of Section 4's most dominant pitchers squared off Thursday afternoon at Cohen Elementary School in Elmira Heights. Waverly and Wendi Hammond ended up with the edge against Thomas A. Edison and Bella Willsey.

Hammond, a senior right-hander, pitched a three-hitter that included 13 strikeouts as the Wolverines handed the Spartans their first loss, 3-0.

Waverly, ranked second in the state in Class B by the New York State Sportswriters Association, improved to 13-1. Defending Section 4 Class C champion Edison is ranked first in the state in Class C. The Spartans suffered their first loss after opening the season with nine victories.

"We were really amped up," Hammond said. "This was the game that we’ve been looking forward to all year. Today was a big day and we were ready for it. We came prepared. The whole team did.

"This win is huge, especially since our whole team was involved in this win. We had really good at-bats. Girls that haven’t had good at-bats lately, so I just think this momentum will take us forward."

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Waverly's Wendi Hammond delivers a pitch on her way to a three-hitter in softball against Thomas A. Edison on April 25, 2019 at Cohen Elementary School in Elmira Heights.(Photo: Andrew Legare / Staff photo)

Both of the Interscholastic Athletic Conference powers benefited from the showdown, but more so for the Wolverines, who a day earlier posted a 44-0 victory over Whitney Point to clinch the IAC Division 3 crown. It's been a similar season of dominance for Edison, whose nine wins have each been by at least 10 runs.

"We want these types of games," third-year Waverly head coach Brian Wendela said. "We love playing Edison every year. Well coached. Liz (Warren) does a great job with those girls. Hats off to them, but huge game.

"I think we learned more from this game. It builds us, it makes us tougher. We’ve been on the other sides of these games. Toward the end of last year and this year we’ve been figuring our way out around the softball field and pulling these games out."

Edison was hurt by some uncharacteristic mistakes. None more than two throwing errors on the same play in the seventh inning that allowed two runs to score, giving the Wolverines some insurance. Sydney Meyers' bunt was caught for an out before Morgan Lee and Kari VanAllen ran around the bases while Edison threw the ball around.

VanAllen's two-out double to deep right field drove in the game's first run in the second inning.

"The first thing I said when we got back into the dugout (after the game) was this is the game we needed," Warren said. "It’s a humbling experience, I think in some areas we played Edison softball, in other areas we beat ourselves today. I think this is a great opportunity for us to learn from our mistakes, move forward and stay strong for the end of the season."

Willsey finished with a five-hitter for Edison and gave up just one earned run. She struck out 11 and walked three.

"I think that’s one of the best matchups we’ll see in this area as far as IAC goes," Warren said of the pitchers. "It’s amazing to see those two against each other. I think both had a strong outing. We had a hard time getting the bat around on Wendi and for a while they had a hard time getting the bat around on Bella. It was a true pitchers’ duel and that was great to see."

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Waverly first baseman Paige Lewis catches the ball to complete a double play against Thomas A. Edison on April 25, 2019 at Cohen Elementary School in Elmira Heights.(Photo: Andrew Legare / Staff photo)

Hammond cheese

Hammond's dominant fastball and pinpoint control have helped give her a stat line this season that is simply ridiculous. She has pitched 75 2/3 innings and allowed just 22 hits and four runs, two of them unearned. Hammond has struck out 160, walked just six, pitched a six-inning perfect game and has two other individual no-hitters and a combined no-hitter.

Wendela said the amount of work Hammond puts into softball is second to none among players he has coached. He said it's 365 days a year, with pitching lessons and hitting lessons. Hammond gave him an indication she was prepared for another big game Thursday morning.

"She said, ‘Coach, I’m ready.’ I said, ‘Yep," Wendela said. "We had a little game plan coming in and she executed it to darn near perfection. Just another great outing. She seems to impress every time out and get stronger and stronger every time she gets the ball in her hand."

A hit batter was the only mark against her control Thursday. Riley Vincent was 2-for-3 for Edison, including a bunt single. Christina Willsey had the Spartans' other hit.

"The one thing that stood out to me was I had a pretty effective riseball tonight," said Hammond, who has signed to pitch at the University at Albany. "It really worked against this team. I just tried mixing things up, throwing different things. It just all came together to the end."

Edison entered the game having scored 164 runs in its first nine games.

"I just knew I had to take every batter seriously," Willsey said. "I couldn’t slack off a batter, I couldn’t slack off a pitch. I had to focus every batter."

Costly mistakes

In addition to the two errors on one play in the seventh inning, Edison also had some miscues offensively. Vincent's bunt single to open the bottom of the fourth was wiped out one pitch later when third baseman Hali Jenner caught Jodie Burdick's pop-up on another bunt and threw to first for a double play.

With two on and one out in the sixth, Edison had the possible tying run thrown out at third after Wolverines catcher Riley Hall had a Hammond heater hit her on the arm and bounce away. Hammond hustled after the ball with Hall down in pain before making the throw to third.

"Not only the physical skill errors, but the mental errors that are the difference between a win and a loss today," Warren said. "Unfortunately it was those mental errors that made the difference for us in a negative way. Learning from it and moving forward."

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Rare blip for the Spartans

Even in losing their first game, the Spartans were a hit or two from being in front heading to the final inning. In the seventh, VanAllen stopped a potential comeback before it could start when she made a lunging grab on a shot to center field off the bat of Reagan Seelye. Hammond capped a strong defensive game on the mound by snaring a line drive from Bella Willsey on the next at-bat.

Those quality at-bats reflect an Edison team that remains perpetually up-beat.

"The one thing that I love about this team is their spirit," Warren said. "They stay up through and through and through. Today was a challenge for them to do it. All seven innings we were at the fence, cheering, we’re doing our best to stay in it.

"Their bats have been incredible. To be (three-hit) today was very unlike us. Great opportunity for us to adjust and move forward."

Edison will get another challenge Saturday when it travels to Vestal for the Testa Tournament. The Spartans meet Chenango Forks at 12:30, then face either Vestal or Elmira.